Innovation

1916 map of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Our current manufacturing facility on North Burdick Street is marked by the star.

Our tradition of superior design and craftsmanship started in 1906

A History of Craftsmanship

We began our journey as Kalamazoo Sheet Metal more than a century ago. As a custom sheet metal fabrication shop, the family-owned company relied on its reputation for craftsmanship. Through the years, a focus on custom food and dairy processing equipment evolved. The “dairy standard” describes a flawless fit and finish level for stainless steel welding. Every seam has to be finished perfectly so that the equipment can be easily cleaned and kept free from bacteria. Kalamazoo Sheet Metal excelled at this, but also served architectural firms and the pharmaceutical industry on a wide variety of projects.

The Birth of the Hybrid Fire Grill™

More than 15 years ago, the founder’s great grandson was running the business, but he wanted to do something more. And so he set out to design the world’s best grill. Leveraging the skills of the company’s stainless steel craftsmen and women as well as his own passionate creativity, the first Kalamazoo Hybrid Fire Grill was born. It did not follow the conventional industry template. A heavy-gauge welded frame offered lasting durability. Casters from industrial dumpsters gave warning of its ruggedness. A deep, hopper-like firebox improved the heat dynamics and made it easier to clean. And, above all, it was designed to combine the convenience of a gas grill with the superior cooking capabilities of a charcoal grill. The outcome was a gigantic departure from the previous expectations of stainless steel grill.

The Birth of a New Company

These unique grills developed a passionate and loyal following over the next few years. Kalamazoo's focus slowly shifted exclusively to outdoor cooking equipment, but it was still the same craftspeople putting their skills into every bend, weld and stroke of the hand-rubbed finish. The “dairy standard” was (and is) still alive and well.

Before long, we pioneered the first modular outdoor kitchens. The seamless rain gutter that keeps our outdoor kitchen cabinets weather-tight is the same rain gutter we used to fabricate the wash-down electrical enclosures on that dairy equipment.

Today, more than a century after our humble beginnings, we are the industry leader in outdoor kitchens. Every piece of Kalamazoo’s equipment is still built by hand with the same dedication to quality and craftsmanship. We build it to order, and we ship directly from our factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan to homes all over the globe. When each grill has been through the process of cutting, forming, welding, finishing, assembly and testing, it is signed by the people who made it with their own hands.

A Heritage of Innovations in Outdoor Cooking

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is the leader in outdoor kitchens. Our grills, pizza ovens, refrigeration and cabinetry set the standard for performance, quality and innovation in each of their categories. We invented Hybrid Fire Grilling, and Kalamazoo still builds the only high-performance gas grill that also cooks with charcoal and wood. That spirit of innovation is just as much a part of the rest of our outdoor kitchen collection. Each piece is distinctive in the world of outdoor kitchens.

Outdoor Grills

Aside from being the best gas grill money can buy, a Kalamazoo Hybrid Fire Grill also allows you to cook with wood and charcoal. We invented the Hybrid Fire Grill in the late 1990s, and have since perfected the technology behind it. The Kalamazoo is the only grill available that gives you the freedom to cook with three fuels - on one grill. We have settled the age old gas versus charcoal debate once and for all – why choose when you can cook with both? Thanks to our advanced design and deep firebox, these excel at every outdoor cooking technique there is.

Outdoor Pizza Oven

With the introduction of the Artisan Fire Pizza Oven, Kalamazoo brought the convenience of cooking with a gas flame to outdoor pizza making. The sleek countertop model features two independently-controlled burners and reaches temperatures up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. The Artisan Fire Pizza Oven was designed to mimic the heat characteristics of a wood fired pizza oven, but with the modern convenience of a gas fueled flame. The Kalamazoo pizza oven has it all; a quick pre-heat, dual-control burners for ultimate cooking precision, and the ability to make incredible pizzas with ease at a moment’s notice.

Outdoor Refrigeration

Kalamazoo’s expansive range of outdoor refrigeration is the most powerful and advanced available. The full lineup includes more than 25 different outdoor appliances, including the industry’s first outdoor freezer.

A Kalamazoo outdoor refrigerator is one of the only refrigerators currently available that can keep your groceries at food-safe temperatures, even when the mercury rises to 110 degrees. Advanced insulation, powerful compressors and forced-air cooling are all key components that help keep your food and beverages chilled and ready for your next party.

Outdoor Cabinets

Kalamazoo makes the only weather-tight cabinetry available. Our full line of outdoor kitchen cabinets feature seamless rain gutters around every door and drawer opening to channel water and debris away. Dishes, cookware, linens and utensils stay clean and dry all year long, no matter what Mother Nature throws at them.

Innovation is at the heart of every Kalamazoo product. Each part of the collection – from grills and pizza ovens to refrigeration and cabinetry – represents a significant departure from the established norm. Our passion for outdoor cooking and our fiercely independent design philosophy drive us to establish new industry benchmarks. Consequently, our list of exclusives and innovations speaks for itself.